If you hear the word “orthodontics” and immediately imagine a smiling teen with a full set of metal ‘train tracks’ grinning up at you from their school photographs you may be stuck in the 90’s because the orthodontic industry has come a long way since then. There are a few more discreet ways for people of all ages to adjust their teeth for a more aesthetic smile. We at Harley Street Dental Clinic can offer you clear braces in Harley Street that are more appealing than what you may remember of the traditional ones, allowing you the confidence you need throughout the treatment which is often quicker than traditional braces.
Knowing just how far we’ve come
You are not alone, since ancient times, people have been trying to develop ways to straighten their teeth; even geniuses as far back as Aristotle contemplated ways to straighten crooked teeth and fix orthodontic problems. Confirmed ancient attempts to teeth straightening have been seen in archaeological evidence of mummified bodies with several types of metal bands around their teeth. It was only in the 18th century that dentistry really began to make strides in orthodontic development and it is agreed that a French dentist who published a book on straightening teeth was the first to officially explore this specialist side of dentistry. However, it wasn’t until the 19th century that a wire crib and elastics were used to pull teeth into the correct position that the art of orthodontics was born.
The new orthodontics
Different classifications of malocclusions were identified in the 20th century and the perfection of the system that uses metal tracks to pull the teeth into position was finally settled upon. Since then we have come a long way with what can be expected from orthodontics in terms of clear braces in Harley Street.
Invisalign – There are no gooey moulds that need to be taken of your teeth, only a 3D digital scan which is quick and easy, this is a clear aligner that can offer results from as little as 4 months to just under a year. They are completely invisible and removable, allowing you to eat and clean your teeth as normal without any damage. The aligners are custom made to fit you and need to be changed in the comfort of your home every 1-2 weeks, thus making them a convenient treatment that fits into your lifestyle easily.
Damon System – In some seriously difficult cases, it may be required that you first have a course of traditional braces before switching to clear ones but this system offers a similar solution to traditional braces. Instead of metal tracks and wires being fixed to the teeth to pull them apart, this system uses clear brackets that are far less noticeable than the old metal ones. The length of treatment depends on each individual case, but it is very effective.
Now in the 21st century with all the options we have for just about everything, including braces, with clear braces in Harley Street, you can control which treatments best suit your lifestyle.